Ellsworth American., 1887-03-17
''Inasmuch,'.

You say that you want meetin'- house for the
boys in the guch up there,
And a Sunday-school with pictur'books.
Well, put me down for a share.
believe in little children; its as nice to hear
'em read
AS to wander round the ranch at noon and see
the cattle feed.
And l believe in Ireachin too-by men for
preachin born.
Who let alone the husks of creed, and measure
The pulpit's but a manger where the pews are
gospel-fed;
And they say twas 10 manger that the star
of glory led.
So I'll subscribe dollar toward the manger
and the stalls;
| always give the best I've got whenever
my partner calls.
And, stranger, let me tell you; I'm beginning
to suspect
That all the world are partne1, whatever their
creed or sect;
That life is kind Of pilgrimage, a sort of
Jericho road,
And Kindness TO ones fellows the sweetest
law in the code.
No matter about the initials; from a farmer.
YOU understand,
Who's generally had 10 play it alone from
rather an Urinary hand.
I've never struck it rich; for farming. you see.
is slow.
And whenever the crops are fairly good, the
prices are always low.
A dollar isn't very much. but il helps to count
the same:
The lowest trump supports the ace, and some
times wins the game.
1t assists fellows praying when he's down
upon his knees
"Inasmuch as you have done it 10 one of the
least of these
| know the verses. stranger. so YOU needn't
stop to quote:
It's different thing TO know them or TO say
them of by rote.
I'll tell YOU where learned them, If you'll
step in from the rain
Twas down in Frisco. years ago: bad been
there hauling grain.
II was near the city limits, on the Sacramento
pike.
Where stores and sheds are rather mixed. and
shantics scatterin' like.
Not the likelic>t place to be in. remember,
the saloon.
With grocery market bake->hop, and bar
room all in one.
And this made up the picture hair was
not then gray.
But every thin. still seems real n if twere
YESTERDAY.
4 little girl with haggard face stood at the
counter there.
Not more than ten or twelve at most. bat
worn with grief and care;
And her voice was Kind OF ra>py, like sort OF
chronic cold
Just the tone You find in children who are pre-
maturely old.
She said: Two bits for bread and tea. Ma
hasn't much to eat;
She hopes next week to work again, and buy
Us all some meat.
We've been half starved all winter but spring
will soon be here,
And she tells Us, Keep up courage. for God i
always near.
Just then dozen men came in; the boy was
called away
To shake the spotted cubes FOR drinks,
'Forty-niners say.
] never heard from human lips such oaihs and
curses loud
A. rose above the glasses OF that crazcd and
reckless crowd.
But the poor tired girl >at waiting, lost at lat
to revcls dc, p.
Os a keg beside barrel in the corner. fast
asleep.
Well. | stood there, sort OF waiting, until some
one at the bar
Said, Hello say, stranger what have YOU
over thar:
The boy then tol6 her story. and that crew. 80
fierce and wild.
Grew intent. and seemed TO listen To the
breathing OF that child.
The glasses all were lowered; said the leader
Boys, see here;
All day we've been pouring whi-kcy. drinking
deep our Christmas cheer.
Here, two dollar> I've got feelings which
are not entirely dead
For this little girl and mother >utferln. for the
want Of bread
Here's Il dollar Here's another And
they aIl chipped in their share.
And they planked the ringing metal down up
on the counter there.
Then the spokesman took golden double
eagle from his belt.
Softly stepped from bar 10 counter. and be-
side the sleeper knelt;
Took the two bits" from her fingers changed
s4,s.r F,rt Al.